Robert Lincoln and the shooting of President McKinley

[RJNorton]

I thought I would share with folks an example of how stories get embellished as time passes.

Robert Lincoln found out about the shooting of President McKinley as he stepped off his train onto the platform in Buffalo on September 6, 1901.

In the notes section in his terrific Robert Lincoln bio, Jason Emerson lists all the variations of the stories that have circulated regarding Robert's exact location when the shooting occurred:

1. He was on the train.
2. He was just off the train at the Buffalo station.
3. He had just entered the grounds of the Pan-American Exposition.
4. He was in the crowd in front of the Temple of Music.
5. He was inside the Temple of Music.
6. He was within hearing of the shots.
7. He was standing near the president.
8. He was within sight of the shooting.
9. He was simply nearby.

[LincolnMan]

Wow! Just the author have a guess as to where RTL actually was?

[RJNorton]

Good morning, Bill. Yes, Jason Emerson says that Robert Lincoln's secretary in Chicago had sent a telegram with the news to the train station. An employee of the train station handed the telegram to Robert as he stepped off the train. So when the actual shooting took place earlier in the day Robert was on the train to Buffalo.

[HerbS]

Good morning, Bill. Yes, Jason Emerson says that Robert Lincoln's secretary in Chicago had sent a telegram with the news to the train station. An employee of the train station handed the telegram to Robert as he stepped off the train. So when the actual shooting took place earlier in the day Robert was on the train to Buffalo.

*****Fantastic research Roger! It is like telling the 1st student in row 1-and by the time it gets to the LAST student,the entire story has changed! Amazingly,in 35yrs it worked twice!

[LincolnMan]

That is quite amazing!

[LincolnMan]

Since it is generally accepted that both Abraham and Mary Lincoln had mental heath issues- I wonder did Robert T. Lincoln ever struggle with depression? I have not actually read a book exclusively about him. Is there anything in the literature on the matter?

[RJNorton]

Bill, in a footnote on p. 541, Jason Emerson writes, "One of Robert's former secretaries, Andrew P. Federline, supposedly said his employer had 'fits of depression and melancholy' similar to his father, and during these periods sought refuge in his observatory. Federline claimed that Mrs. Lincoln feared her husband would commit suicide and 'always' asked the secretary to stay with him."

Source: Margaret A. Flint to Ruth Painter Randall, Springfield, Illinois, November 12, 1955, folder "Robert Lincoln" box 72, Randall Family Papers.

Is this letter online? I do not know. Maybe Rob will.

[LincolnMan]

Roger: this doesn't surprise me at all-given what we know today about genetics in biological depression. Since Jason Emerson wrote about "Mary's Madness" it also makes since that he touched on it concerning RTL in his book about him. Interesting stuff!

[Rob Wick]

Roger,

It's doubtful it is online. Ruth Randall's papers are with James's in the Library of Congress. Here is the LOC finding aid.


Best
Rob

[HerbS]

I think RL had his"moments"from what he saw in his parents! RL must have had many demons and had to hide them!He probably suffered from a type of"Post Traumaic Stress Syndrome"!

[Gene C]

I have not read Jason's book yet (but it's on my list).
Sounds to me like Robert had a tought act to follow, but he did a good job of being his own man, and not just living off his fathers reputaton. There is a lot of baggage, expectations and pressure that goes with being the son or daughter of a famous person.

[Craig Hipkins]

Wasn't he close by when Garfield was shot at the train station?

Craig

[RJNorton]

Hi Craig. Yes, in his bio of Robert, Jason Emerson says he was "about forty feet away."

[HerbS]

Thanks-Roger,Yes RL was very near the Garfield Assassination! The Garfield Assassination has a lot of Quirks in it also! I think Garfield's son's attitude contributed to Giteau going over the edge!

[LincolnMan]

And what happened to Garfield's assassin?